Wagner used a dominating 21-4 outburst to put that game away after trailing early in the second half.

But LIU 6-foot-6 power player E.J. Reed was limited to 15 minutes of play in that game due to a concussion he suffered in the first half. Reed had already scored seven points and grabbed five boards by the time he left the game.

“We’ve talked a lot about who we’ve been and who we want to be,” said the Wagner coach. We talked about being ready to come out right away and be ready to fight, and I expect us to respond.” 

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LIU’s all-everything point guard Jason Brickman has 905 career assists, and at 9.8 assists per game, is on his way to a second straight season leading the nation in that category.

The San Antonio area product is 42 assists away from cracking the NCAA career Top 10, where he’ll supplant Doug Gottlieb.

Five more will move him into a ninth-place tie with former Knick Greg Anthony at 950. 

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One absolute key for the Seahawks is their explosive power forward Mario Moody.

The 6-7 junior has averaged 19 points and 8.3 rebounds in three of Wagner’s four most recent games vs. the Blackbirds. Wagner won all those games.

In the one loss, last year’s NEC Tournament semifinal defeat, Moody scored five total points and grabbed just four boards. 

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Interesting stat:

In six meetings between LIU’s Brickman and Wagner’s Kenny Ortiz here are some numbers: